Page 25 of Fixed Up Ever After
“Thank you, Ms. Lola!” Camilia jumped up and gave Lola a hug. She seemed surprised by this, but Javi watched as she relaxed her body and hugged back. “I’ll go put it in my backpack right now!” She giggled and rushed out of the room.
Once alone, Javi took a step closer to lean against the doorframe. “Thank you for entertaining her. I hope she wasn’t too much trouble.”
“Not at all. Actually, she helped me sort all the children’s books, so she was a great help. She earned her prize.”
They fell into a natural silence, Javi in awe of how comfortable his daughter was around Lola. From the looks of it, Lola had seemed to enjoy their time together too.
Finally noticing him staring, Lola cleared her throat. “So, I’ll see you next week then?”
“No,” he said, causing her to frown. “You’ll see me Saturday when I take you out on our date.”
“Are you seriously going to take me to bingo?”
People slept on bingo and she would understand that soon. He winked. “Seriously.” And left without another word. He took Camilia’s hand and loaded her into his truck.
He spent the next two days with Camilia, taking her to a park and ice cream after. The distraction helped keep his mind occupied and eased the dad guilt of leaving her for a few hours tonight as he took Lola out on a date that wasn’t really a date. Granted, she would be asleep and not even realize he was gone, but still. Being her only living parent, Javi took her safety and happiness into consideration at all times.
Thankfully his papá agreed to babysit and not even an hour ago the two of them waddled with blanket capes around their shoulders to Camilia’s room to watchBeauty and the Beastfor the millionth time. Both of them would be asleep before the credits rolled, snoring peacefully.
Javi needed to get his ass ready and stop thinking about all this damn guilt he was carrying around like a hard hat. His only concern should be what the best shirt was to wear on his non-date date.
Javi thought back to his sister’s first date with Maverick. She had called him on the phone and he had to sit for hours, alongside her best friend Willow, to decide on the outfit Ofelia would wear. He would like to think he wasn’t that obsessive over his choices, but after the third shirt he discarded with the others, he was starting to worry.
After a solid five minutes of staring into his unorganized closet in hopes that something would jump out at him, Javi settled on a maroon crew neck and his only pair of non-work jeans. After another ten minutes in the bathroom, he was ready to go.
It felt weird not picking Lola up, but she requested they drive separately. She said she liked having her own vehicle in case of emergencies, which he understood so he made sure to give her the address. Thinking of Lola waiting for him at an unfamiliar place made him leave the house twenty minutes earlier than he anticipated, but he’d be damned if she showed up alone.
The bingo parlor was downtown, a few blocks away from Phoenix. Finding it wouldn’t be a problem, but rather like anything downtown, parking was a complete nightmare. Luckily there was a garage right across the street to accommodate the various entertainment buildings downtown. Javi parked his truck on the second floor, noting the various open spots for Lola. Then made his way across the street and waited just outside the parlor.
He had been skeptical about it at first until one of his work buddies dragged him here a few years ago. There was a large bar that served beers, cocktails, and wine, as well as a rather impressive menu of street tacos. He remembered dragging Ofelia here a few times after to get her to experience bingo like it should be played. Admittedly, he knew bingo was an odd choice unless you were a ninety-nine-year-old grandpa.
Inside would feel like a small fiesta predominantly full of locals from various Latine cultures. Cumbia music played softly in the background and Javi felt at peace here. Like he belonged. The last thing he wanted to do was walk into a white-dominated bar and get looks because he didn’t fit into their perfect little mold.
He hoped Lola felt comfortable too and that he didn’t make a mistake bringing her here.
Not even five minutes later, she arrived. Lola was in a black dress and red heels, her hips swayed with each step she took closer to him. Her sweet red lips turned into a shy smile when she saw him. “I think I’m a little overdressed.”
Her black dress—he was starting to think black was her favorite color to wear—was skintight, accentuating her curves. She wore her hair down in loose curls. She was beauty incarnate, and Javi felt like a dog, salivating after a particularly juicy steak. He didn’t feel worthy enough to be in her presence, but he was damn glad he was.
“No, you look perfect.” The words fell from his lips like freely given secrets. The deepening red tint to her cheeks made him obnoxiously happy to know he had made her smile like that. Not another man.Him.
“So, bingo. Care to explain why? I don’t think I’ve ever played bingo as an adult,” she said, looking up at the building with the flashing neon lights. The parlor itself wasn’t much to look at, but the ambiance and food more than made up for it.
“It’s easier to show you.” Javi offered his arm to her. Lola did not even hesitate as she looped her arm through his.
He opened the door and walked them to the counter where he purchased their bingo cards and markers. The man told them the next round of games would happen in thirty minutes, giving them enough time to get their food and drink.
The bingo man gestured for them to walk inside where a lively crowd had formed. The cumbia music from outside had grown louder, reverberating through his body. Inside felt like a little slice of Mexico, with papel picado decorating the ceiling and terecitas scattered throughout the tables in little clear vases.
“Oh, wow.” Lola’s voice barely carried over the music, but he could still hear the awe in it. It was how he felt when he stepped foot in here for the first time. Seeing one's culture represented and celebrated in a positive light always left him breathless. He remembered why he loved coming here and made a mental reminder to start coming more frequently.
“Are you hungry?” Javi asked, leading her further inside.
Lola still looked like a kid in a candy store, taking in all the delectable sights and sounds. She nodded at him, though he suspected she was only half listening. “Let’s—” she started, but then her eyes went wide and her body tensed.
Javi’s own body was on instant alert as he swept his gaze around the room, wondering what made her react like that. He didn’t have to wonder long because she said, “Is that…that one baseball player? Maverick Wilson?”
Of course his date would be a sports fan and he not know.
